I Am the Resurrection and the Life - Easter Message

Easter is my favorite holiday!
I love that it’s in spring.
I love spending time with my big Mexican-American family.
But most of all, I love that Easter- Resurrection Sunday – is the day I celebrate the fact that 2018 years ago death passed me by.

On Good Friday, Jesus became our Passover Lamb and His blood shed for me covered all my sins. He paid the penalty for my transgressions by His body that was broken and His blood that was shed.

On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus walked out of that tomb, conquering death and guaranteeing that my last breath on earth would be my first breath in heaven.

That’s why I love Easter!!!

I recently heard a sermon on the miracle of Lazarus. Two weeks before Jesus was crucified, Jesus performed one of the most amazing miracles of His ministry. He told His disciples that this miracle would be “for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4)

I also believe that Jesus performed this miracle so that those close to Him, like his disciples, mother, and friends, could remember during those three dark days while he was in the tomb that He had the power to raise the dead.

Jesus was a good friend with Lazarus and his two sisters. He had spent time with them in their home and He loved them. (John 11:5) While Jesus was out of town, Lazarus got very sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus because they knew that Jesus had the power to heal their brother. However, when Jesus heard the news, he stayed out of town for an extra two days. He told the disciples, “Lazarus is dead. And I’m glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may BELIEVE.” (John 11:15)

By the time that Jesus got near to Lazarus' house, he had been dead for four days and was already in a tomb. His sister, Martha, was not happy. She ran out to see Jesus about 2 miles away from her house as he was approaching and basically told him, “You’re late! If you would have gotten here on time, my brother would be alive.” (John 11:21)
Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
I can just imagine Martha’s exasperated sigh and eye roll as she said, “I KNOW, he’ll rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus must have given her a loving look and explained loud enough so that the multitude around them could hear that the resurrection of the dead was not about a particular day in the future, but it was about a person. He was that person.

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

He asked Martha face to face – “Do you believe this?”

Today, 2018 years later, Jesus is asking us that same question.
“Do you believe this?”

The answer we give Jesus to that question determines where we take our next breath after our physical death. It will either be in His presence in heaven or eternally separated from Him in hell. It’s our choice…
because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 ESV)

He already took our sins upon himself. He already conquered death for us. He holds the keys to death and life. He has already opened the door to heaven. But, it’s up to us to walk through that door or shut it in his face.

Just like Jesus wept when Lazarus died because of the sorrowful mourning of the people. Jesus weeps for us. He does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9) but for all to turn from their sin, repent, and run into His loving arms. For God so loved the world (He so loved us) that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

So, Jesus is asking you today, “Do you believe this? Do you believe in Me? Do you believe I am the resurrection and the life?”
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  I am the Door; anyone who enters through Me will be saved [and will live forever], and will go in and out [freely], and find pasture (spiritual security). John 14:6 NLT; John 10:9 AMP

Don’t wait to give Him your answer. Life is short and the hour is growing late. Today is the day of salvation. Let today be your Resurrection Day!

Love,
Yolanda

Jesus, My Shelter In The Storm

One rainy day in preschool, we asked the children, “What do you like to do in the rain?”
Most said, “Play in the puddles.”
Some said, “Wear my rain boots and splash.”
A few said, “Stay inside and play with my toys.”
However, one very practical little boy said, “Open my umbrella.”

Hmmm….
"Open your umbrella?” That’s kind of boring.
So we asked him, “Well, what do you like to do in the rain with your umbrella? Play in the puddles? Dance around?”
He looked at us like we were a little slow.
“Open it.” Duh.

Lately, I’ve been in a storm. And, when I look around me, all my friends are in the midst of their own storms. Sometimes, I feel bad asking for help with my little storm when my friends are being battered by Category 5 hurricanes.

My preschooler's answer really resonated with me. How many of us are in midst of the storm and we run to and fro getting wet? We seek every solution to solve our problems except seeking the only ONE who is able to calm the storm - Jesus.

While we are getting drenched, Jesus is standing right in front of us holding an umbrella and saying, “Open it. Stop running to and fro. Just open your umbrella of faith and I will be your shelter in the storm.”

Recently, I was reading about Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt. As they approached the Red Sea, Pharaoh and his chariot army chased them. They were stuck between the sea ahead of them and the enemy behind them. In fear, they cried out to the LORD. You could say, they were in the midst of a Category 6 hurricane storm. Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today…The LORD will fight for you and you will hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 NKJV

I've read this story tons of times, yet what I found fascinating about reading it this time was how many times God said in His Word, “And the children of Israel will go through on dry land.” He literally pointed out in His Word that He made a way for the children of Israel to go through the Red Sea on “dry land.” It was like He wanted to remind His children, not only did He save them from the enemy but, He is such a loving and good Father, that He did not want their feet to get muddy. He reminded them five times, "Hey, I got you through the sea on dry land!"

When I read this passage a few weeks ago, I was in the midst of my own storm. The enemy was chasing me with his army and I was at what felt like an enormous obstacle – my own Red Sea. When I read through this portion of scripture, I actually numbered the times that God said “dry land.”

1. Before the children of Israel even stepped into the water, God promised they would cross over on dry land. Exodus 14:16
2. During the evening, before the children of Israel had to even walk one foot into the sea, the LORD parted the waters and dried the land. Exodus 14:21
3. While they were crossing, the LORD reiterated that the land was dry. Exodus 14:22
4. After the children of Israel were safely on the other side, the LORD caused the waters to crash on the enemy but He reiterated that His children had crossed on dry land. Exodus 14:29
5. Lastly, after Moses and the children of Israel sang their worship song of thanksgiving to the LORD, the LORD mentions it one last time. “For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them. BUT the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.” Exodus 15:19 (NKJV)

God never promises us that we are going to escape the storms of life. Actually, Jesus said that in this life we were going to go through storms (John 16:33), but He promises to be with us and give us His peace.

I felt like God was reminding me (5x) that I wasn’t going to be able to avoid this storm, but that He would shelter me in the storm. He would part the waters for me and allow me to go through on dry land, but I was still going to have to walk in faith to the other side.

So, what does “dry land” look like in our own storms? Some of our storms are enemy attacks, some are illnesses, some are broken relationships, some are crisis of faith, however if we are Children of God, if we have put our faith in Jesus Christ and believed in Him to be our LORD and Savior, then we can cling to this promise of God:
“I will work ALL things for good for those who love Me and are called according to My purpose.” Romans 8:28 
That is the promise I clung to in my storm. It's a promise you can cling to also.

Here are some other promises from God that you can use to open your umbrella of faith:
Psalm 32:6-8 (AMP)
Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [for forgiveness] in a time when You [are near and] may be found;
Surely when the great waters [of trial and distressing times] overflow they will not reach [the spirit in] him.
You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble;
You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.
Psalm 46:1-2 (NLT)
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Isaiah 24:4 (NLT)
You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat.
Isaiah 4:6 (NLT)
It will be a ...hiding place from storms and rain.
Nahum 1:7 (NLT)
The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.

In order to open our umbrella of faith, we must have our umbrella on hand and be ready for unexpected storms. We don't want the storms of life to hit, and we don't even have an umbrella.

OK, I think I've exhausted this umbrella analogy! But, you get the message. Open God's Word. Read His promises. That way when the storm hits, you'll have His promises to cling to. He has promised to shelter us in the storm on "dry land". We just have to believe in His goodness and unfailing love, to trust Jesus, pray for His peace, and we'll see the salvation of the LORD.

So, I have my umbrella open. Do you?
Love,
Yolanda